Natural Skin Toners

Cleansing, toning, exfoliating, moisturizing are the four pillars of an effective skincare routine. Exposure to the toxins in the air and around us can corrupt the skin. So it’s vital to take care of one’s skin and develop a good skincare routine. Everyone knows what cleansing is and understand its purpose. Toning, however, comes out a bit more complicating to most people. Many still don’t understand why we use skin toners and the effect they leave on our faces.

Skin toners are the second step of most skin care routines. They might look like water and feel just the same as water but they do so much more. Everyone, from renowned dermatologists to Korean idols have found positive results from using a skin toner. They are applied before moisturizing and after cleansing the face. The purpose of a toner is to get rid of extra dirt, oil, and makeup and balance the pH of your skin. There are many products out there that do the job of a skin toner. It’s recommended to use a non-alcoholic toner as it is healthier.

But what if you don’t want to go through the hassle of choosing from the thousands of toner products out there or simply don’t want to spend too much money. Maybe you just prefer natural and homemade products or chemicals aren’t your things. Nevertheless, natural skin toners do the same job as a chemical one. For one, they are organic and can be made at home. And to me, knowing what goes in the product that’s supposed to help my skin feels a lot more reassuring than using a chemical product that might harm me.

Here are eight homemade skin toners for you to try out. With just a few ingredients from your kitchen, you can improve your skincare routine and be set on the path to healthier skin.

Suggested Read: Step-By-Step Skincare Routine For Healthier Looking & Feeling Skin

1. Camphor and Rose Water

Camphor, known for its therapeutic and medicinal properties, has always been used for curing skin problems. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce itchiness, rashes, acne, and improve the overall appearance of the skin. On the other hand, rose water is a good hydrating agent with anti-bacterial properties. The combination of the two creates a hydrating toner that soothes the skin after a rough day.

How to apply: Add a pinch of camphor in a bottle of rose water. Mix this solution and apply regularly after cleansing your face.

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2. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is a healthy drink known to bring many health benefits. One of these health benefits is its effects on the skin. The gold-colored tea contains anti-oxidants and protects the skin from free-radical damage. The tea can heal acne scars and prevent breakouts if used regularly.

How to apply: Boil a cup of water and add the chamomile tea bag into the boiling water. Let the tea bag rest there for about five minutes, letting it extract the color of the tea. Let the potion cool completely and store it in a bottle for regular use. Apply on the face with a cotton pad routinely after washing your face with a cleanser.

3. Mint

Mint is a common herb used for medical purposes. One being the skin. It contains strong anti-bacterial properties that prevent acne and breakouts. As well as salicylic acid, a dermatologist-recommended ingredient in effective ance management. The aromatic herb is also packed with vitamins like Vitamin A that control the oil secretion in oily and acne-prone skin. A toner made from this herb will have exceptional cooling and anti-bacterial properties.

How to apply: Boil about 5 cups of water and insert mint leaves while the water is still hot. Let the solution cool and store it away. Saturate a cotton pad with the liquid and spread it on your face.

Suggested Read: Face care tips for glowing skin

4. Cucumber

You might’ve seen someone place cucumbers on their face. That’s because cucumbers are 95% water and provide extraordinary cooling and hydrating effects on the skin. They are astringent, allowing them to successfully cleanse the skin and tighten pores. A cucumber toner can soothe the skin from swelling caused by sunburns and excessive heat exposure. Leave the skin feeling hydrated and the open pore tightened.

How to apply: Grab ⅔ of a thoroughly cleaned cucumber and cut it into small pieces. In a pan, add cup water and then the cucumbers. Keep the pan on a low-medium flame for about 8 minutes until the water starts to boil. Blend the mixture. After it cools properly, filters the juice using a sieve and save the toner in a bottle. Saturate a cotton pad with the toner and regularly apply it on your face as a part of your skincare routine.

5. Aloe Vera

This succulents’ gel has been used to heal skin irritations for ages. Its inflammatory properties can reduce the swelling and pain caused by swollen pimples. Not just that, but its anti-bacterial properties can control and reduce acne-causing bacteria overall. Aloe vera can also soothe the skin and leave it feeling nice and cool. An aloe vera toner will be helpful for severe acne and leave your skin feeling moisturized.

How to apply: Cut open an aloe vera leaf and scoop out its gel. Dilute 2 tablespoons of the gel by adding 1 cup of water. Store it in a bottle and apply it on your skin regularly to reduce irritation.

Suggested Read: Oily Skin Care Routine

6. Green Tea

Drinking and applying green tea repairs DNA, which ultimately helps fight and prevent skin cancer. Green tea is rich in EGCG, a polyphenol that improves acne and oily skin. Its antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties attack free radicals. EGCG also reduces oil secretion because it’s anti-androgenic. A green tea toner will be effective in fighting acne and its side effects like swelling, redness, and irritation.

How to apply: Brew a cup of green tea and let it cool. Apply this solution to your face with a cotton pad after properly cleansing your skin.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is used in many places to obtain health benefits. It can also be used as a skin toner as it can help balance the pH level of the skin. Apple cider vinegar is made up of several different astringent acids like acetic acid, malic acid, and citric acid, making it an ideal toner with its anti-bacterial properties. The latter controls skin oil, clears pores, removes impurities, and cleanses the skin.

How to apply: Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of distilled water. Avoid using undistilled apple cider vinegar on the skin as it can cause irritation. Dab the solution on your face routinely using a cotton pad to get the best results.

Suggested Read: Dry Skin Care Routine

8. Ice Cold Water

Using ice-cold water or ice in general over acne can alow down inflammation and tighten pores. Minimizing the pores can help with the excessive oil your skin creates. Though it’s not as effective as some other toners, using ice-cold water as a toner can reduce inflammation and prevent more acne from appearing.

How to apply: Using a cotton pad, dab ice-cold water on your face after cleansing it. If you want, instead of dabbing ice-cold water, you can directly rub an ice cube on your face.

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